BobbyClarkeFan16

3 hours ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

Wasn't aware he was a center.

 

Most places just list him as a forward.

 

Always loved his dad and always thought he would have been an amazing Flyer.

 

In fact every hockey game I played I always traded for Iginla so he did become a Flyer. What might have been.

Iginla can play all three forward positions, but he's most effective at center. I'm really hoping that the Flyers can end up with either Catton or Helenius though. I want the pure offensive dynamo. I'm tired of good reliable two way players. Give Michkov a high end offensive guy to work with as well. 

Well, Graf is in San Jose. I'm wondering if they go hard after Brodzinski and Rizzo. That would be some good talent to add down in Lehigh Valley. As for the draft, the Flyers are in a position now to possibly land one of Helenius, Iginla or Catton. I still think they should package the Florida pick and a player to see about landing Dylan Cozens from Buffalo (gut feeling says that Kevyn Adams will listen to offers on him).

30 minutes ago, GratefulFlyers said:

Excellent comprehensive assessment imho - so do you see Tortorella losing his effectiveness by year 4? Coincidentally that's when his contract expires AFAIK. If he gets "Flyers fired" upstairs (good one @flyercanuck!) I won't mind but I do wonder if the Tortorella trajectory from years past still applies.

A couple of things. First, I think the system Tortorella uses is a very physically intense system and it wears down players. Their effectiveness becomes less and less because of injuries and exhaustion. You can't play 100 miles per hour like that and not think that it's not going to cause problems. Look at the good teams around the league and you see that they don't play that type of hardness all the time. I agree that you should keep the pedal to the metal so to speak, but at the same time, you have to know when to let up on occasion. 

Second, I think after awhile, the same message gets old. You have to know when to freshen it up and I think Tortorella is a "my way or the highway" guy and he won't break from that. He talks about being able to read the room. If you see that your guys are tuning out, you need to change the message. That doesn't make him ineffective or his coaching ineffective, but it definitely leads to locker room revolts.

When you look at Tortorella's overall body of work, he's a coach that gets results. That can't be denied. He did a great job in Tampa Bay, New York and Columbus. Vancouver was a one off, but overall, he did a great job and when you consider that he's lasted an average of six seasons everywhere he's been, it's clear that he's a good coach. I look at him here and it's clear that he's chilled out a bit. However, some of his old tendencies continue to follow him. For instance, not being able to understand offensive hockey? Come on, that's the direction the league has moved in and you can't figure it out? Garbage. Same with his defense of Rocky Thompson and the Flyers power play. If you're going to call out players, you HAVE to call out your coach who has coached bottom of the league powers in San Jose and Philadelphia. That's not a coincidence. I'm not saying that Thompson is a bad coach because he's won championships at the Major Junior and AHL level. He can coach. He just can't run a power play. Honestly, I'd be using Rocky down in Lehigh Valley because he can develop talent. 

Once again, this is my own $0.02 on things. Others might disagree, but if we're strictly looking at numbers, the numbers speak for themselves. 

57 minutes ago, GratefulFlyers said:

 

You mean as far W/L, POs etc.? Like actually being a good team instead of overachieving or whatever they did this year? I know you follow the game closely...so I'm a little surprised you're this optimistic....if I understood you correctly that is.

I am optimistic and I'll explain. Tortorella's teams usually take a huge jump in years two and three. So this year, big jump compared to last year. We can all agree on that. They came close this year to making the playoffs. They were supposed to be awful. I'm my eyes, that's a win. We saw guys take a huge jump forward in their development, we saw guys hit what they were supposed to be when they were drafted and we got glimpses of what the future will bring. 

This is also a work in progress. The defense is still a mess. York was fantastic most of the year, but he's run out of gas towards the end of the year. Sanheim stepped up to price everyone wrong. Drysdale looks like he's going to be a speed demon with offensive chips. Yes, he's been bitten by the injury bug, but these injuries this year didn't require surgery or anything like that. A full off-season of good physical training and he's a different player come training camp. Zamula was very good in his bottom pairing role. He can give 16 to 17 minutes a night and can fill in for others and not look overwhelmed. However, there's still dead weight on the blue line. Ristolainen has to go. He really offers nothing. He's not even offensively talented anymore. It's like everything has been drained from him. Staal and Johnson are gone after this year. The only real anchor is Seeler, but for less than $3 million bucks, he can be bounced to the third pairing when his usefulness runs out. So, they need at least two defensemen. Is Andrae one of those guys?

Goaltending is going to be a tough one to fix. Is Ersson the answer or is he a flash in the pan? Was he gassed from a heavy workload or can he simply not handle that can workload? I'm interested to see how he responds this off-season in terms of training. As for Fedotov, the man has been in town for nearly two weeks. I'm sure he's experiencing culture shock and upheaval. I'll reserve judgement on him until next year. But yes, they could use a good third veteran to come in to push and challenge them. 

As for the forwards, there's room for improvement there. I'd say that at least four forwards are gone. Atkinson will be gone. I'm also going to go out on a limb and say that they'll use of the biggest name forwards as bait. It won't surprise me if at the very least, they shop Frost and Farabee. They've got Tuomaala in Lehigh Valley, but he might need another season and Michkov won't be here for another two seasons.

So, there's still work and questions. But I'm satisfied with how this year went. And yes, I feel confident they are even better next year, win record wise and player development and acquisition. 

We got spoiled by the success of this club. They weren't supposed to be as good as they were and we're seeing what they should have really been this year. They overachieved. They now potentially have the 13th overall choice and could slide back further if they lose out. What does that mean? Konsta Helenius, Tij Iginla or Berkly Catton is within their grasp. All three are future number one centers, something this organization is lacking. So, not the end of the world. 

Next season is when they should make a big jump.

This off-season they need to address the center position. I'm all for giving up one of those first round picks if they can land a guy like Dylan Cozens. 

6 minutes ago, flyerrod said:

I like his skating and puck handling ability even if it is a small example size. The first deflection goal was unstoppable and he still got a piece of it. The OT goal was on the guy who handcuffed Frost with a slow behind pass. I would give Errson the next game off and see how he does with a real start. I am not anti Errson but the guy needs a rest.

I'm giving Ersson the rest of this season off. He's clearly gassed and he's not ready for a full time work load.

4 hours ago, flyer4ever said:

All this FA talk is what got the Flyers to where they are today. The shiny toy team build. The hire alumni guys who do as they're told build. The draft middle to late in round 1 build. The trade for broken old guys with term build. I seriously have very little optimism about this team going forward. I will have to see a 180 degree pivot at the draft and free agency this summer to change my mind. This season of culture building has done nothing but set the rebuild back another 2 or 3 years. I would love to be hopeful and excited, I just don't see a reason for it. The 2 top prospects are gone and 2 years away. Hard to get excited.

Getting whacked at home by the bottom feeder and the coach who built the culture saying it's my fault that we're tired is a sad state of affairs.

Grabbing a guy like Zadorov or Pesce isn't about building around them. They're complimentary pieces to what's already in place. Adding players of that caliber also means you aren't having to rush the Andraes, the Bonks, the Sotherans, etc....

I want those guys to be successful and I want them developed properly. Now, it would also help if there was a coach in Lehigh Valley that knew how to develop players, but that's another argument.

37 minutes ago, RonJeremy said:

We can sign all the dmen we want, we are going nowhere with Laughton or Poehling as the second line center. Frost is a second liner, we need a real first line center and then Poehling is perfect as third line center  Laughton can be traded and Coots can be fourth or switch with Poehling depending if Coots bounces back next year.  His days as a top two center are over.  

Laughton and Poehling are being used in those roles because they're the coach's pets. Let's be honest about that. Tortorella loves the try hard guys. In fairness, Poehling should be back as the 4th center and Laughton should be used exclusively on the left wing of Poehling on the fourth line. 

I'm all for an elite checking line. If that line can win critical faceoffs, score between 35 and 40 goals a year and play exclusively on the penalty kill, that would be ideal. 

In terms of a legit number one center, nobody is trading those and if they do, it's costing you a fortune in terms of picks, players and cap space. The Flyers are going to have to draft a center.  The question is, will they have the patience to let them develop? 

So yeah, I think it's best to get the defense straightened out first because that elusive center is going to be incredibly hard to find, unless the Flyers decide to give Michkov the Giroux treatment and play him at center. Even then, I certainly wouldn't mind a Boisvert/Hage prospect in the pipeline.

3 minutes ago, flyercanuck said:

 

Gaudreaus salary is almost 10 mil for 5 more years...he's going to cost picks to dump him. Thank Christ Fletcher didn't have his way with that one. 

Laine is at 8.7, and again, not earning it. 

Someone will pick them up. Columbus will eat salary in any deal, but they'll get picks back.

1 minute ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

Now for a physical guy Zadorov might just be the guy to pair with him.

 

But price tag could change that.

I like Zadorov. Was a big fan of him in London. I never understood why no NHL club wouldn't use him in an offensive role because he had the chops as well. Dude had a great outlet pass and a rocket of a shot from the point. If he wants 3 to 3.5 a year, I'd hope the Flyers would be all over it. 

14 hours ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

 

The horse would make an awesome tattoo!!!

5 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

 

On the fence myself about this now because in a rebuild it might not be time (but if you move Risto out) Noah Hanafin would be a perfect partner for him.

 

Hanafin/Drysdale

York/Sanheim

Seeler/Attard?

Zamula

 

Just thinking aloud.

 

Or maybe add a guy like this the following year hhmmmmm.

Hanafin is going to be really expensive. I think we might be looking at the flyers targeting a guy like Brett Pesce instead. The Flyers desperately need to find a way out of the Ristolainen deal though. That's an albatross anchor deal.

Rocky Thompson was a terrible choice to bring in. He was terrible as the pp coach in San Jose (there is zero reason to be the worst power play in the league when you've got guys like Thornton, Couture, Meier, Burns, Karlsson, etc ....) and he's bringing the same garbage here. Playing players out of position on the power play is inexcusable. The best the Flyers can do is fire him or send him to Lehigh Valley to be the head coach there (Thompson was a great junior hockey coach and was a successful AHL coach). But he's gotta be removed because the power play has been horrid from day one he got here. 

2 hours ago, flyercanuck said:

 

Lets hope that happens...cause it's not looking too good. He's played 8, 10 and 17 games his last 3 seasons.

 

Really like him, when he's healthy. Hopefully he can be that.

2 hours ago, flyercanuck said:

 

Don't think that's going to happen.

 

 

I really like Drysdale, when he's healthy. But he's played 8, 10 and now 17 games in his last 3 seasons. That not exactly screaming health.

I'm not worried about Drysdale and the injuries. The injuries have all been flukes. It happens. The good news is that it isn't his head or knees. Yes, it's been his shoulders but the injuries that happened were on completely fluke plays. It could have happened to anyone.

As mentioned, a full season here working with Shaw, they'll point out what Drysdale should and shouldn't do. I also think getting him someone on the left side who's a banger and a physical player will be ideal for him. Let him be a roamer with focus on the offensive side and his partner will focus on the defensive side. 

As for Columbus, it depends on who the next GM is. They're going to be terrible next year as well. I think it makes sense to give up the 2nd this year and keep next year's. I also think that they're probably going to move on from Gaudreau and Laine, so they'll have more picks coming back. 

30 minutes ago, jammer2 said:

They also walked in the room with Golf clubs in an effort to intimidate her into doing what they wanted 

Oh yeah. It was terrible. I'm going to be honest - I fully expect that they'll be found not guilty because of the poor job of the initial police investigation, but when the details come out about what happened, you can bet that they'll never play in the NHL again. They'll be black balled. And maybe it's just me, but Tortorella really seemed angered when the charges were announced. He cut all ties with Hart immediately and stopped referring to him by name. Coaches don't normally do that. That was a huge sign to me.

1 minute ago, RonJeremy said:

 

20 year olds are not exactly the picture of maturity, have you ever seen what goes on at college parties and spring break. I’m not defending them if they are guilty but just being there doesn’t make you guilty. Time will tell.

That doesn't hold water. If my ten year old knows that assaulting women is wrong, then a 20 year old should know. This isn't about a drunken sexual encounter. This is five guys who took turns on this girl and ejaculated and spit on her. Don't tell me they didn't know what they were doing was wrong. They knew.

1 minute ago, ruxpin said:

My "ugh" response is about the truth in your post.

I hate it. I hate having to say that kind of stuff. At the same time, Hart has no one to blame but himself for putting himself in that position to begin with. I have no sympathy for him at all. Even if he's find not guilty, the stench of this is going to follow him in that people will know what happened in that hotel room and he participated in pile on on a young woman. There's no defending that.

1 minute ago, RonJeremy said:

I don’t know ,the NFL and NBA allow wife beaters and convicts second chances, I know the NHL is different, so some teams may want him. You know how it goes these days, people are all outraged and then it’s soon forgotten.  The mayor of DC was caught on camera smoking crack with escorts, resigned and was re-elected . Maybe Hart plays overseas for a year and comes back. The Flyers would still own his rights for a trade, unless they outright release him. Plus , how many 18 yr olds have good judgment when drinking and at a party.

Lots of 18 year olds have good judgement. They know not to put themselves in that position. And they weren't 18 when the assault took place. They were 20. Big difference.

1 minute ago, RonJeremy said:

I guess even if Hart is found innocent , he will probably be traded due to the bad publicity . I just wonder how much his value has diminished. 

Hart has no value. Nobody will touch him even if he's find not guilty. Teams will look at him as a weak character guy and someone who can't make good decisions. He's going to have to go Russia or some place like that to rehabilitate his career.

I'm hopeful that Fedotov makes an impact when he comes over. The flyers desperately need a goalie to step up. Ever since Ersson was named starter, in his 21 games, he's gone 9-8-4 with a .880 save percentage. I know I harp a lot about Ersson, but this was his chance to really grab the reins and run with the number one role and he dropped the ball. And I don't need to hear "he's a rookie" type stuff. He's going to be 25 in five months. He's played in 102 professional games and counting on North America. He's played professionally in Sweden. He's not a rookie anymore. Hopefully Fedotov can push Ersson to get to the next level. Hopefully Ersson pushes Fedotov. Steel sharpens steel. 

The Score did mention that he is on his way over to North America. The more goaltenders available, the better.

2 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said:

 

Because Torts wants to be in management and I shared this the other day in a clip and you even liked it.

 

He wanted to be in management with the Blue Jackets and Jarmo wouldn't allow it.

He'll replace Clarke and Holmgren as a senior advisor. You can already see the finger prints of what Briere is doing.

As for the rebuild/winning games/losing games/blaming players and coaches conundrum, I look at it like this. There's more than enough talent on this roster to be competitive. And I speak for myself here, but that's what I want to see - a competitive team. What aggravates me is that this is also supposed to be a development year. And while some players are doing well in the development curve, some aren't. And those who aren't, are being 'graded' to those who are. You can't do that. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. But that's not being addressed. Instead, they're all being developed in the same manner and when guys don't hit, that's when things go sidewards.

On top of that, some guys are getting a pass. I've been vocal about how poor Ersson has been. Mr .898 is getting a pass because "Carter Hart". No, that nonsense needs to end. Sam Ersson is a professional hockey player. Is it too much to ask him to make a save every now and then? And it's just not here that his play was like that. It was also the same in Lehigh Valley. He needs to decide whether he wants to be mediocre or good. And right now, because everyone on the team loves Sam, they aren't pushing him. Yet, a guy like Brink or Lyksell (I know, different positions) are reamed out when they miss an assignment defensively. It's about playing favourites and it's garbage coaching. 

I've said I could care less if they make or miss the playoffs. Doesn't matter to me. But I want to see consistency across the board from players and coaching and that still isn't happening. That's my biggest gripe right now.

Sam Ersson is not a number one goalie. He needs to go back into a backup role next year.